Integrated Marine and Coastal Resource Management

The proposed project will strengthen the conservation and management of globally significant marine and coastal biodiversity in Senegal. Consequently, it will answer priorities identified in the National Biodiversity Strategy and the National Environment Action Plan. The project’s specific objectives will be to:1. Strengthen the management of existing coastal and marine protected areas;2. Develop and implement participatory systems for managing biodiversity in a sustainable manner.3. Improve capacity to protect and conserve coastal and marine biodiversity by: i) establishing a coherent institutional framework involving all stakeholders, ii) developing and nurturing required scientific, technical and managerial skills, and iii) improving the regulatory framework for coastal zone management.At Work Program Inclusion, the project proposes to use protected areas as development poles, designing and testing approaches that integrate biodiversity conservation and sustainable use concerns with poverty alleviation and socio-economic development. GEF funding will support efforts by the Department of National Parks to sustainable manage the network of protected areas along the coast using an ecosystem approach. To meets it conservation and sustainable use objectives, the project includes the following components: (a) development of sustainable fisheries; (b) conservation of critical habitats and species; (c) program management, including M&E and communication schemes.